A budget is a crucial part of any marketing plan. It gives a clear overview of all the costs associated with carrying out your marketing activities, including advertising, online content, branding, public relations, staffing costs and more. Creating a marketing budget can help you stick to your plan and avoid unanticipated costs, reducing the possibility of overspending. Since a marketing budget reduces risk and provides a financial road map, it's a useful tool for both large and small businesses. It also allows you to determine the return on investment for different aspects of your marketing plan.